"If there are people who wish to understand all Buddhas of the three periods of time they should contemplate the nature of Dharma Realm. The Tathagatas (Buddhas) are made from mind alone."

Buddha is the highest state of existence of all sentient beings. There are many titles of Buddha, but the most common ones are summarised in Ten Titles of Buddha, which represent the characteristic of Buddha.

Buddha has a threefold body 1. Dharma body --- the Buddha-body in its essential nature 2. Retribution body --- a body of bliss, which he/she "receives" for his/her own "use" and differentiation from all other Buddha 3. Response and transformation body --- Buddha can appear in any form to cross over the sentient beings.

Though Buddha is the highest enlightened beings with unconceiveable spiritual power, he is unable to do the following: 1. to eliminate or change the karmic retribution 2. to cross over those who reject Buddhism 3. to cross over the entire sentient beings in the Dharma Realms

Maybe due my poor english, i dont understand very well some things on your last post Sinwei: what exactly means [url]cross over[/url] seint beings?Also, you said:Buddha also has Ten Powers, which enables him to cross over the living beings, to perform all kinds of merits and virtues with psychic power and to dwell in liberation without hindrance.

What kind of virtues are these? And why can he "cross over" (whatever that means in this context) living beings but not all living beings (as said on other part of your post)?

At last, can a Buddha alter reality as he wish? For example, Buddha suddenly appears in front of every member of this forum and teaches them the Dharma or change the colour of my car to another colour, etc...i mean, what kind of physical or paranormal powers can he have and wish one he cant have, and why?

Ten Powers 10 Powers The Ten Powers of Buddha or Bodhisattva are the complete knowledge of 1. what is right or wrong in every condition 2. what is the karma of every being, past, present and future 3. all stages of dhyana liberation and samadhi 4. the powers and faculties of all beings 5. the desires or moral directions of every being 6. the actual condition of every individual 7. the direction and consequence of all laws 8. all causes of mortality and of good and evil in their reality 9. the end of all beings and Nirvana 10. the destruction of all illusion of every kind

sorry for late reply. my English is also not so good too . ya "cross over" is what catmoon said to liberate beings. the ten powers is also the quality of Bodhisattva if u read the link, qouted. i think Buddhas have all kind of spiritual powers (including changing color of your car but with a reason to help beings understand dharma, or decreetly appear as a forumer which i guess they always would do, as its conducive of teaching dharma.) except for the three listed. because if u compare spiritual powers to karma, karma is most powerful. there's a disciple who was foremost in spiritual power who tried to save a group of people from being slaughter but can't. in the end his power also cannot save himself from being killed.

Mogallana (Also Moggallana, Maha-Maudgalyayana, foremost in possessing supernatural powers)Mogallana followed the Buddha together with Sariputra. Mogallana gained Enlightenment within 7 days and attained supernatural powers. Why did Mogallana have such great supernatural powers? This is because in a previous live, Mogallana gave a treat to a Pacceka Buddha. The Pika Buddha was not very eloquent in explaining the Dharma through words, hence he illustrated using supernatural powers. Mogallana was impressed and vowed that he too would achieve in supernatural powers to propagate the Dharma.Supernatural powers were quite common among Buddha's disciples. However the display of it was always discouraged by the Buddha, all except for Mogallana, he was even praised for using supernatural powers in propagating the Dharma. There were many interesting stories, including one giving rise to the Buddhist festival of Ullambana. However I shall mention one that is less heard of.There was once where Kapilavastu was to be attacked by King Virudhara from the Kingdom of Kosala King. Buddha tried to prevent the war by sitting at the pathway leading to Kapilavastu on 3 separate occasions. King Virudhara always retreated whenever he saw Buddha. However King Virudhara's revenge and hatred could not be subdued. Buddha knew that there was no way to prevent the Karma further, thus he left them alone.Mogallana had been successful in all his supernatural powered deeds. Hence he thought that more could be done in this case. Buddha explained to him that this was due to the past bad Karma of the people in Kapilavastu. The people remained arrogant, non-rependent, deceitful, and did not amend their ways, hence there was no way of substituting the fruits of Karma. Mogallana was unconvinced. The army surrounded Kapilavastu such that no one could escape. Mogallana used his supernatural powers to fly into the city, found 500 great men, transform them into his alms bowl, and flew out of the city to a safe spot. However when he opened the bowl to recover the men, he found a bow of blood water instead! Mogallana realized that supernatural powers cannot overcome Karma. (For more details, check out here for more details: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Courtyar ... sacre.html.)This was a lesson for Mogallana. Finally one day Mogallana was ambushed by some Jain followers. They pushed rocks from a hill onto Mogallana. Mogallana knew this was his Karma and he did not use supernatural powers to overcome it. He died under the rocks. This was before Buddha's final Nirvana.http://honsing.com/Disciples.htm

"And what is the miracle of psychic power? There is the case where a monk wields manifold psychic powers. Having been one he becomes many; having been many he becomes one. He appears. He vanishes. He goes unimpeded through walls, ramparts, and mountains as if through space. He dives in and out of the earth as if it were water. He walks on water without sinking as if it were dry land. Sitting cross-legged he flies through the air like a winged bird. With his hand he touches and strokes even the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful. He exercises influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.

"Then someone who has faith and conviction in him sees him wielding manifold psychic powers... exercising influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds. He reports this to someone who has no faith and no conviction, telling him, 'Isn't it awesome. Isn't it astounding, how great the power, how great the prowess of this contemplative. Just now I saw him wielding manifold psychic powers... exercising influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.'

"Then the person without faith, without conviction, would say to the person with faith and with conviction: 'Sir, there is a charm called the Gandhari charm by which the monk wielded manifold psychic powers... exercising influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.' What do you think, Kevatta — isn't that what the man without faith, without conviction, would say to the man with faith and with conviction?"

"Yes, lord, that's just what he would say."

"Seeing this drawback to the miracle of psychic power, Kevatta, I feel horrified, humiliated, and disgusted with the miracle of psychic power.

_/\_Amituofo!

"Enlightenment is to turn around and see MY own mistake, Other's mistake is also my mistake. Others are right even if they are wrong. i'm wrong even if i'm right. " - Master Chin Kung

If you allow me, after reading what you said, i will ask some more things:- if Buddhas have really such power, wouldnt be really beneficial to appear right now in front of me or you, etc and say: "I am Buddha Amitabha, i am real. I am saying this so you can REALLY be sure that i am real so you can reborn on my paradise if you wish."? If they have power why not doing that? Whats the explanation? A scientific mind as mine is thinking that maybe Buddhas dont have such power, but thats just a wild guess

- If powers cannot overcome Karma, so whats the interest? Its like in the story you posted about Mogallana...For example, if i have the power of, lets say, teleportation, that wont be useful if i fall from a very tall building. I wont be able to teleport myself for a safe place because my Karma is "telling" me that i will die.

- sometimes i believe on such powers, that Buddha was able to do amazing things, but my scientific and skeptical mind will say thats impossible; and in fact we dont see people with such powers (flying for instance or crossing water like Jesus, etc)...so the question is: do you really believe thats possible to possess such powers?

i think first it's rare to have such powers, not that it's impossible. you need to be trained, cultivated and observed certain strict precept, which is not easy. Padmasambhava, the lotus born, if you read his story, did have the ability to fly, speed running for days and sermon the weather. He was trained by a yogi specialised in spiritual powers, but not very Buddhism if you ask me. Second it could be our time where there are too many imposters saying they are the founder of which religion etc. our level of doubt is high, so if a Buddha did appear, we will be more sceptical. Moreover, maras can also do the same. then what is the different between Buddhas and maras. hence Buddhas advocated not to use powers unless very much necessary. They have to follow their own rules.

by the way, when we are reborn in western pureland, you too will have the spiritural powers opened. actually it's our original abilities. we already have it in all of us, but it's just hidden. see the vows:-

5 If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not remember all their previous lives, not knowing even the events which occurred during the previous hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of kalpas, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.6 If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not possess the divine eye of seeing even a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of the Buddha-lands, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.7 If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not possess the divine ear of hearing the teachings of at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddhas and should not remember all of them, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.8 If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not possess the faculty of knowing the thoughts of others, at least those of all sentient beings living in a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha-lands, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.9 If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not possess the supernatural power of travelling anywhere in one instant, even beyond a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha-lands, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.

anyway i recall from Lotus sutra, The Thus Come One’s Life Span:

From the time I attained Buddhahood, The eons that have passed Are limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads Of kotis of asamkhyeyas in number. I always speak the Dharma to teach and transform Countless millions of living beings, So they enter the Buddha Way. And throughout these limitless eons, In order to save living beings, I expediently manifest Nirvana. But in truth I do not pass into quiescence. I remain here, always speaking the Dharma. I always stay right here, And using the power of spiritual penetrations, I cause inverted living beings, Although near me, not to see me. The multitudes see me as passing into quiescence. They extensively make offerings to my sharira. All cherish ardent longing for me, And their hearts look up to me in thirst. Living beings, then faithful and subdued, Straightforward, with compliant minds, Single-mindedly wish to see the Buddha, Caring not for their very lives. At that time I and the Sangha assembly All appear together on Magic Vulture Mountain, Where I say to living beings That I am always here and never cease to be. But using the power of expedient devices I manifest "ceasing" and "not ceasing" to be. For living beings in other lands, Reverent, faithful, and aspiring, I speak the Unsurpassed Dharma. But you who do not hear this Think that I have passed into quiescence. I see living beings Sunk in misery, and yet I refrain from manifesting for them In order to cause them to look up in thirst, Then, when their minds are filled with longing, I emerge and speak the Dharma. With such powerful spiritual penetrations, Throughout asamkhyeyas of eons, I remain always on Magic Vulture Mountain And also dwell in other places. When beings see the eon ending And ravaged by the great fire, My land is peaceful and secure, Always filled with gods and humans, Gardens and groves, halls and pavilions, And various precious adornments. There are jeweled trees with many flowers and fruits Where living beings roam in delight. The gods play celestial drums, Always making various kinds of music, And mandarava flowers Are scattered on the Buddha and the great assembly. My Pure Land is not destroyed, But the multitudes see it being burned entirely. Worried, terrified, and miserable, Such ones are everywhere. All these beings with offenses, Because of their evil karmic causes and conditions, Pass through asamkhyeyas of eons, Without hearing the name of the Triple Jewel. All who have cultivated merit and virtue, Who are compliant, agreeable, and honest They all see me Here, speaking the Dharma. http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/reso ... otus16.htm

you don't see Buddhas/bodhisattvas all around us? i may as well see them. if you can see them, then you are enlightened. you would have achieved a realisation. meaning everyone including those that are bad to you(like Devatta) around you are Buddhas. Buddha still respect Devatta, saying about his buddhahood. if you see them as Buddhas, then you are Buddha too. if you see them as bodhisattva/arahat, you are a bodhisattva/arahat respectively. every single person around you are teaching you the dharma, Really. why cannot you see them teaching? why do you hated those who are bad to you? why do you only like those that you prefered? because there is attachment, dualism and wandering thoughts. get rid of these attachment, dualism and wandering thoughts and self, then you WILL see Buddhas all around you. they do have the original spiritual powers.

_/\_Amituofo!

"Enlightenment is to turn around and see MY own mistake, Other's mistake is also my mistake. Others are right even if they are wrong. i'm wrong even if i'm right. " - Master Chin Kung

another, power cannot overcome karma account of the Buddha himself, but thi is more related to affinities.

One day, when the Buddha entered a village with his assistant Ananda, he approached a poor woman to share his teachings with her. However, the woman disliked the Buddha so much, that despite his magnificent and pleasing appearance, she could not even stand the sight of him. Wherever the Buddha went, she would turn away. When he went to her right, she would look left. When he went to her left, she would look right… Even when the Buddha used his supernormal power to levitate above to catch her attention, she looked down and refused to look up. However, when she saw Ananda, her attitude became the reversed. She was naturally drawn to him, and happily listened to the Buddha’s teachings related by him, which she found to be beneficial. This is very interesting as though Ananda almost resembled the Buddha in form, he was still not his equal, and especially not the same in compassion, wisdom and skilful means. How is this outcome possible then?

In a distant previous life, the woman once lost her child and was consumed by much grief. A spiritual practitioner passed by and enquired after her. After hearing about her misfortune, he replied somewhat ‘indifferently’, that there was no need to grieve as death is natural. As he seemed detached, his words felt cold and hurting, which gave rise to her aversion. When another practitioner came by and enquired similarly, he kindly offered his condolences, before sharing about the truth of death. The first practitioner was the Buddha-to-be and the latter Ananda-to-be. Due to these karmic affinities formed, the woman developed a ‘natural’ disdain for ‘the Buddha’ and a ‘natural’ attraction to ‘Ananda’. As such, positive and negative karmic affinities can be carried not only from one moment to the next in this life, but also from one life to the next. This is a crucial reason why we ought to be mindful of the impact of our fewest words and slightest gestures, or even the lack of them, as they can affect present and future relationships for better or worse.

Although the Buddha, with his great wisdom, already knew the outcome of his approaches to the woman, what he demonstrated was the importance of doing our best in connecting to others, with as many skilful means as possible, before deciding the next skilful means is to step back, to let the ‘next better player’ try. The inexplicable ‘first’ impressions we have towards total or near strangers are often due to affinities formed in past lives. As these perceptions are not always rational, and often result from emotional bias, as in the case above, we should learn to manage all relationships anew, to form updated and thus truer perceptions of people as they are now. Feel-good vibes might not always turn out good, just like feel-bad vibes might turn out unjustified. Unless proven ‘hopeless’ for the time being, all deserve second chances – including ourselves. Remember, if you believe any affinity to be beyond hope, you are fatalistic with disbelief in the dynamic nature of karma, whose power you always hold!